Police tortured him to death

MADURAI:  In a strange case of a custodial death, a man who had lodged a complaint with the police claiming that his daughter had gone missing, was found dead at the Oomachikulam police station in the outskirts of Madurai in the early hours of Thursday.Though police claim it was a case of suicide, the man was tortured to death, claimed a fact-finding team of People’s Watch, an NGO.According to sources, Markandeyan (48), a building contractor, residing in Island Nagar, Madurai, had lodged a complaint with the Oomachikulam police a few days ago that his daughter was abducted by a relative Senthil Kumar from Coimbatore. It was said that Kumar was in love with Markandeyan’s daughter, and the father was opposed to the affair.Sources said the police were reluctant to trace the duo and, instead, said that they were willing to interrogate any suspect he brings to the police station. Accordingly, Markandeyan and his relatives got hold of Kumar’s friends Madhusudhanan and Senthil Kumar, and handed them over to the Oomachikulam police. However, it is said that the parents of Senthil Kumar filed a counter-complaint in Coimbatore against Markandeyan, based on which the Oomachikulam police interrogated him on Wednesday till evening.It is alleged that Markandeyan and his relatives were threatened by police officials, including the Oomachikulam DSP.The DSP and constable Murugan had called up Markandeyan at his home and asked him to report at the police station by midnight. Markandeyan was  dropped by his nephew Ganesh at the police station.When Markandeyan did not return home till 7 am on Thursday, his brother Muthuramalingam called up constable Murugan. Murugan, however, replied that Markandeyan did not come to the police station. Later, Muthuramalingam got information through the villagers that his brother was dead and the body had been sent to the GRH for post-mortem.The relatives told the fact-finding team of People’s Watch that there were dried streaks of blood from the victim’s nose, mouth and neck. Magistrate Uma Maheswari conducted inquiries with the victim’s relatives in this regard. A judicial inquiry has been ordered. However, Additional Deputy Superintendent of Police A Mayil Vahanan said there was no reason to torture Markandeyan and it was a clear case of suicide.